Device for protecting ears from noise



p l 1959 I R. R. HORNI'CKEL 2,883,671

DEVICE FOR PROTECTING EARS FROM NOISE Filed Aug. 30, 1957 United States Patent DEVICE FOR PROTECTING EARS FROM NOISE Robert R. Horuiekel, Monroeville, Pa., assignor to Mine Safety Appliances Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application August 30, 1957, Serial No. 681,210

1 Claim. (Cl. 2-209) This invention relates to devices for protecting the ears from noise, and has for its objects the provision of such a device which is of simple construction and which utilizes the tragi as ear plugs.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided for each car a depressor member adapted to engage the outside of the tragus of the ear. Means supported by the head are connected with the depressor member for pressing it against the adjoining tragus sufliciently to cause the tragus to close the entrance to the ear canal. For best results, the depressor is supported by a cup that is adapted to surround and receive the ear. The cup is spaced from the side of the head by an annular cushion that seals the space betwen them, so that sounds reaching the outer ear are reduced.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a front view of my noise protection device;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of the inner side of one of the ear covers; and

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line III- III of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, a headband 1 of any desirable construction is shaped to extend across the top of the head and a short way down the sides. The ends of the headband are secured to the upper parts of inverted U- shaped yokes 2 having substantially parallel side portions. The headband and yokes are made of spring metal. Near the lower ends of both sides of each yoke, there are inwardly projecting pins 3 aligned with each other. The two pins on each yoke project into circular recesses in the opposite sides of a cup 4 forming part of an ear cover. The cup preferably is made from a rigid plastic and is oval with its major axis extending vertically. It can be tilted on the pins that support it.

As shown in Fig. 3, a thin ring 6 is secured in any suitable manner to the free edge of the cup around its open side and extends inwardly a short distance across the cup. The ring may be made of metal or a plastic and preferably has a slight amount of flexibility. Engaging its outer surface is an annular cushion 7 of resilient material.

When this device is placed in position on the head, the cushions are fitted around the cars, which extend into the cups a short distance. The cushions engage the side of the head, and the spring pressure of the headband Patented Apr. 28, 1959 presses them firmly in place to seal the space between the cups and the head. If desired, the cups may contain sound-absorbing material, such as plastic foam or sponge rubber.

It is a feature of this invention that, in addition to the noise reduction produced by the ear covers, means is provided for, in effect, plugging the ear canals. This is accomplished by providing the ear covers with means for pressing or bending the tragi of the ears back into the entrance to the canals to seal the openings. Accordingly,- a tragus depressor is supported by each ear covering. The depressor consists of a tongue 8 projecting from ring 6 inwardly and forward into the space surrounded by cushion 7. The tongue may be integral with the inner edge of the ring and be curved in such a manner as to press against the tragus T (Fig. 3) in a comfortable manner. It also should be resilient so that in no case will it exert an excessive amount of pressure against the tragus. A pad 9 on the outer surface of the tongue adds to comfort. The depressor is designed to press the tragus back or in far enough to close off the outer end of the auditory canal C, thereby plugging the canal so that materially less noise will reach the inner car.

It will be seen that with the ear depressor disclosed herein, the tragus itself is used as an ear plug, thereby making it unnecessary to insert a separate plug in the ear canal, which is objectionable to many people. Moreover, it is much easier to use the tragus depressor than to insert and remove an ear plug. Although the depressor could be used without an ear cup, when it is used with a cup as shown, noise is reduced still further. Also, the cup forms a convenient support for the depressor and holds it firmly in place.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claim, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

I claim:

In a device for protecting cars from noise, a cup adapted to receive an ear, a thin ring secured to the edge of the cup and extending part way across the cup, a resilient tongue-like depressor integral with said ring and projecting radially inward therefrom in a position to press the tragus into the entrance to the ear canal to close it, and an annular cushion engaging the outer surface of said ring for contact with the head.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Hanks Aug. 13, 1957 

